Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia Is So Special It Comes With a Kangaroo Leather Suit

The bike is a derivation of the Panigale V4 S that was presented in the summer of last year and, despite its name, it is not part of the same series as the Panigale V4 Tricolore that was announced in December 2024.

Unlike that one, which was meant for the masses, the Italia version is strictly limited to 163 units, and, as said, all of them have already been assigned. The reason for the collector bike's existence is to be a tribute to Francesco Bagnaia's record win at the Mugello Grand Prix last year, and also a nod to the colors of the Italian flag.

At the beginning of June 2024, Bagnaia and his fellow rider Enea Bastianini managed to ride their Ducati Lenovo Team motorcycles to the first and second places in the race, and they did so on the backs of machines wearing a special Azzurro livery.

Taking things from there, Ducati designed the Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia to remember fans of those motorcycles, but it went further than that, and included on this two-wheeler a series of special features that make it unique in the lineup.

But first, let's start with the commonalities between the Italia and the base V4 S. The two, naturally, share most of the components, including (or especially) the so-called front frame chassis and the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine.

The power levels for the engine are the same 216 hp and 121 Nm of torque, but whereas in the standard V4 S power levels could be taken to 228 hp thanks to the fitting of an  Akrapovic racing exhaust system, that doesn't appear to be the case here.

The Italia also uses the same suspension system, which is a combination of the Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES), an Ohlins fork, and a shock absorber of the same make. The system is tied to a set of carbon fiber wheels that have been homologated for two-seater use.

The wheels are special in themselves. Coming in with a five-spoke design, they cut down the weight of the V4 S by 2.1 pounds (0.950 kg), while at the same time lowering the moment of inertia by 12 percent at the front and 19 percent at the rear. The overall weight of the Italia, without fuel, is 414 pounds (188 kg).

There's one more thing related to the wheels that's worth mentioning. This rare motorcycles is the first production bike in the world to use something called the Front Brake Pro+ braking system. Installed on the front wheel, it comprises two finned Brembo T-Drive discs paired with machined GP4 Sport Production racing calipers.

This is the same setup used on the bikes that were ridden in the 2024 Race of Champions, and derived from the system deployed during Superbike World Championship races.

A series of other elements have been specifically installed on the Italia. The list includes a dry clutch, solid aluminum adjustable footpegs, and a GPS module. There are guards and covers (some of them in carbon fiber) everywhere, including over the wheels, on the chain, on the swingarm, and even on the exhaust system.

And now it's time for those tiny yet important things that have always made collectors' vehicles special. On the Italia, they translate into an Alcantara seat, a dedicated animation when the bike powers up, and a racing plexiglass.

The bike's 17-liter (4.5 gallons) aluminum fuel tank wears the signature of Francesco Bagnaia and, true to all Ducati collectible bikes ever made, there is a steering plate that features the name of the model, the unit number, the profile of the Mugello circuit, and an inscription showing the lap record set by Bagnaia.

As said, all of the 163 units of the Italia have already been spoken for, so there's no way for anyone left out of the loop to get their hands on one. And that makes what comes next even harder to digest for the rest of us, seeing how we'll never get to enjoy these perks.

Ducati gives Italia owners the possibility to use the bike on the track by providing, as standard, a solid aluminum racing tank cap, brake caliper conveyors, a carbon fiber open clutch, and a kit for removing the license plate holder.

The bikes will ship to their owners in a personalized wooden crate and they'll be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a dedicated motorcycle cover. For the riders themselves, Ducati throws in with a limited edition professional suit made of fine kangaroo leather.

Given the exclusivity of the Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia and the fact that the production run is already allocated, Ducati didn't see it fit to say how much it charged for the model. We do know how much the next best thing costs, though: the Panigale V4 Tricolore sells for $45,495.